Evidence-based practice and why it matters

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Principals, library, and teaching staff make decisions every day that affect the success of their library. Using evidence-based practice helps you identify your users' needs, point to potential improvements, and measure the impact of any changes you make.

Finding evidence of measured outcomes is essential to understanding how your library supports teaching and learning. It's not enough to simply say that school libraries make a difference. You need evidence to show how your library makes a difference for the learners in your school.

Focusing on learners

Evidence-based practice moves the focus from what school librarians do, to what students achieve. The emphasis is on finding the most effective ways to help students learn. Your library's goals and initiatives need to be based on sound research evidence and a clear understanding of learners’ needs.

Finding evidence of measured outcomes is essential to understanding how your library supports teaching and learning. It's not enough to simply say that school libraries make a difference. You need evidence to show how your library makes a difference for the learners in your school.

Focusing on learners

Evidence-based practice moves the focus from what school librarians do, to what students achieve. The emphasis is on finding the most effective ways to help students learn. Your library's goals and initiatives need to be based on sound research evidence and a clear understanding of learners’ needs.

Dr Ross Todd, of Rutgers University Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL), describes 3 dimensions of evidence-based practice in school libraries:

evidence for practice

evidence in practice, and

evidence of practice.

Evidence for practice — existing research

Evidence for practice involves examining and using existing research to identify best practices and inform changes in practice. It provides compelling evidence that school libraries and library staff have a positive impact on student achievement.

Evidence in practice — professional knowledge and experience

Evidence in practice draws on the knowledge and professional experience of your library staff. It includes information about your own school library setting. The evidence comes from your observations and understanding of how and why things happen in a particular way, in your library.

Evidence of practice

Evidence of practice focuses on finding the real results of what school libraries do. Its purpose is to find out what has changed for learners as a result of changes in practice.

This evidence will come from information collected in your school. Student achievement data can be useful, along with evidence you’ve gathered, particularly from your library users.

Dr Ross Todd, of Rutgers University Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries (CISSL), describes 3 dimensions of evidence-based practice in school libraries:

evidence for practice

evidence in practice, and

evidence of practice.

Evidence for practice — existing research

Evidence for practice involves examining and using existing research to identify best practices and inform changes in practice. It provides compelling evidence that school libraries and library staff have a positive impact on student achievement.

Evidence in practice — professional knowledge and experience

Evidence in practice draws on the knowledge and professional experience of your library staff. It includes information about your own school library setting. The evidence comes from your observations and understanding of how and why things happen in a particular way, in your library.

Evidence of practice

Evidence of practice focuses on finding the real results of what school libraries do. Its purpose is to find out what has changed for learners as a result of changes in practice.

This evidence will come from information collected in your school. Student achievement data can be useful, along with evidence you’ve gathered, particularly from your library users.

School Evaluation Indicators (2016) — this new version of Education Review Office's evaluation indicators reflects a deepening understanding of how schools improve and the role that evaluation plays in that process.

School Evaluation Indicators (2016) — this new version of Education Review Office's evaluation indicators reflects a deepening understanding of how schools improve and the role that evaluation plays in that process.